
Boring Books for Bedtime Readings to Help You Sleep
Boring Books for Bedtime is a weekly sleep podcast in which we calmly, quietly read something rather boring to silence the brain chatter keeping you awake. Think Aristotle, Thoreau, and whoever wrote the 1897 Sears Catalog—mostly nonfiction, mostly old, a perfect blend of vaguely-but-not-too interesting.
If you're on Team Sleepless, lie back, take a deep breath, and let us read you to rest.
Latest episodes

May 27, 2019 • 55min
The Coming of the Fairies, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Reading 1
Let your thoughts flit away as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of the great Sherlock Holmes, tries to prove that actual fairies exist. No, really! It's a fascinating exercise in (not so) critical thinking, if you can stay awake long enough. Music: "earth 2 earth," by PCIII (freemusicarchive.org), is licensed under CC All Boring Books readings are taken from works in the public domain. If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading, catch us on Twitter @boringbookspod or on our Patreon at www.patreon.com/boringbookspod, where you can also kindly support this podcast.

May 20, 2019 • 1h 1min
The Blazing World, by Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle, Reading 1
Drift off on a voyage of relaxation with one of the foundation texts of science fiction and fantasy--"The Blazing World," written by Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle, in 1668. Imaginative worldbuilding and early scientific inquiry is a perfect tonic for sleep. Music: "Gentle Whispering" by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY-NC. Visit http://leerosevere.bandcamp.com All Boring Books readings are taken from works in the public domain. If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading, catch us on Twitter @boringbookspod or on our Patreon at www.patreon.com/boringbookspod, where you can also kindly support this podcast.

May 13, 2019 • 40min
Tao Te Ching, by Lao Tze, Reading 1
This week we fulfill a listener request, and relax to one of the world's earliest and most influential philosophical texts, the Tao Te Ching, by Lao Tze. If you stay awake long enough, perhaps you'll figure out what it all means, but don't hurt yourself. Music: "Exit Exit" by PCIII (freemusicarchive.org), licensed under CC BY All Boring Books readings are taken from works in the public domain. If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading, catch us on Twitter @boringbookspod or on our Patreon at www.patreon.com/boringbookspod, where you can also kindly support this podcast.

May 6, 2019 • 55min
Nature, by Ralph Waldo Emerson, Reading 1
Let's get transcendental with Ralph Waldo Emerson's "Nature" and relax to his musings on beauty, language, and our connection with the perfection of our surroundings. Music: "Ocean Tapping" by PCIII (freemusicarchive.org), licensed under CC BY All Boring Books readings are taken from works in the public domain. If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading, catch us on Twitter @boringbookspod or on our Patreon at www.patreon.com/boringbookspod, where you can also kindly support this podcast.

Apr 29, 2019 • 1h
Media Purchase Terms and Conditions
Let's click "I agree" to the mind-numbing powers of legalese with this reading of the Terms and Conditions that accompany every purchase from a rather famous media company. After all, it's not like you were going to read it yourself. Music: “Watching Whales on the Moon” by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY-NC. Visit http://leerosevere.bandcamp.com for this song and more All Boring Books readings are taken from works in the public domain. If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading, catch us on Twitter @boringbookspod or on our Patreon at www.patreon.com/boringbookspod, where you can also kindly support this podcast.

Apr 22, 2019 • 55min
Plato's Republic: Introduction & Analysis, Reading 2
In this episode, we return to the musings of the great Victorian classicist Benjamin Jowett, his analysis of Plato's "Republic", and a whole lot of socractical thinking about justice. Music: "Peace" by Lee Rosevere (freemusicarchive.org), licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0 All Boring Books readings are taken from works in the public domain. If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading, catch us on Twitter @boringbookspod or on our Patreon at www.patreon.com/boringbookspod, where you can also kindly support this podcast.

Apr 15, 2019 • 50min
A Short History of the World, by H.G. Wells, Reading 1
Listen to H.G. Wells, a great writer of the sciences, as he takes us through a journey of the history of the world. Explore topics like the age of the earth, the evolution of early organisms, the emergence of fishes, and prehistoric sea creatures. Dive deep into the wonders of our marvelous world!

Apr 8, 2019 • 54min
Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin, Selected Readings 1
Float away on a cloud of Benjamin Franklin's scientific musings about our atmosphere, lightning, waterspouts, magnetic poles, and the wonderful utility of mathematics. A great mind working to calm your own busy thoughts--what could be better? Music: “Boring Books for Bedtime” by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC BY Visit http://leerosevere.bandcamp.com All Boring Books readings are taken from works in the public domain. If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading, catch us on Twitter @boringbookspod, and get bonus perks for supporting us on Patreon at www.patreon.com/boringbookspod. Thanks!

Apr 1, 2019 • 42min
How We Think, by John Dewey, Reading 1
Sink into sleep on a philosophical cloud with "How We Think," by renowned education reformer John Dewey. Nothing will get your brain to stop thinking faster than a bunch of talk about thinking. But try not to think about that. Music: "Ambiment the Ambient" by Kevin MacLeod, licensed under CC BY All Boring Books readings are taken from works in the public domain. If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading, catch us on Twitter @boringbookspod, and get bonus perks for supporting us on Patreon at www.patreon.com/boringbookspod. Thanks!

Mar 25, 2019 • 49min
The Sidereal Messenger, by Galileo, Reading 1
Space out with a classic of astronomy, Galileo's "The Sidereal Messenger," in which he shares mankind's first observations of the Moon's surface, and heaps a mind-numbing amount of praise on his patron. Music: "Illuminations," by Lee Rosevere, licensed under CC-BY Visit http://leerosevere.bandcamp.com All Boring Books readings are taken from works in the public domain. If you'd like to suggest a copyright-free reading, catch us on Twitter @boringbookspod, and get bonus perks for supporting us on Patreon at www.patreon.com/boringbookspod. Thanks!